LOVELAND, Ohio - With four freshmen and one sophomore in the lineup, the Indiana men's golf team has three players in the top 25 and sits in sixth place after 36 holes in the 19-team field Xavier Invitational. The young Hoosiers shot a 289 in round one and a season-best, 4-under-par 284 in round two at the Oasis Golf Club (6,921 yards, par 72), good for a 573, their low two-round total of the campaign.

Louisville leads the tournament after firing a 19-under 557 (281-276). The Cardinals hold a four-shot lead over the host Xavier Musketeers (283-278) and a seven-stroke advantage over Austin Peay (276-288) heading into the third and final round on Tuesday.

As was the case one week ago at the Big Ten/Pac-10 Challenge, Drew Allenspach is in the top 10 entering the final round. The freshman carded a career-best 69 in the opening round and came back with a 71 in round two for a 4-under 140 total. Allenspach is tied for 10th place, six shots behind Xavier's John Streibich (67-67).

The Sugar Land, Texas, native's 140 also is a 36-hole career best. Allenspach is in search of his first career top 10 and has positioned himself for his fifth top-30 finish in five fall events.

Three strokes behind Allenspach in a share of 22nd place are freshmen Seth Brandon and Jorge Campillo. Brandon matched Allenspach's 69 with one of his own on the second 18. Playing in the lineup for the second time and making his third appearance of the season, Brandon bounced back from an opening-round 74 with the best round of his career.

Campillo turned in a steady performance, opening with an even-par 72 before coming in with a 71 in round two. The Caceres, Spain, product is in search of his third top 20 and fourth top-25 finish in five events this year, while Brandon is on his way to his best finish this season (previous best - T50 at the Wolverine Intercollegiate, Sept. 24-25).

Sitting in 46th place, sophomore Santiago Quirarte posted rounds of 74 and 73 for a 147 total through 36 holes.

"I'm happy with the way my freshmen played," Indiana head coach Mike Mayer said. "Drew had a solid day, and Jorge and Seth also played well. Those three freshmen are pretty impressive. W e are asking Santiago to grow up real quick, which is an awful lot to ask of a sophomore. I just can't be displeased with four freshmen and a sophomore in the lineup."

Individually, Scott Seibert shares 47th with six other golfers following a 148 two-round total. After shooting a 1-under 71 to open the day, the senior fell back with a 77 in the afternoon.

Playing in the fifth spot and the second tournament of his career, freshman Brandon Pike carded back-to-back 77s and sits in a tie for 82nd at 154.

IU returns to the course and looks to make its way up the leaderboard during the final round on Tuesday at 8 a.m. (EDT).

"We'll come out here tomorrow and try and put up some low numbers. If we do that, we can definitely make up some ground and come out of here feeling good about ourselves," Mayer said.